Denise woke up early the next morning and performed a quick charm which she hoped would take care of the map. She ate a quick breakfast, then spent the rest of the morning preparing her first class. It was going to be an interesting lesson…
Harry too awoke early, but the first thing he did was check his map. It was different; it showed the name Denise James. It hadn't the night before, she had been labeled…Harry shook his head; it was just a glitch in the map.
Denise took at the register as her class started to arrive. She watched as they one by one sat down and took out their things. Hermione, Ron and Harry chose seats at the back, and Hermione prepared to take notes.
When all the seats were filled, Denise started to call out the names, asking them to put up their hand so she could see where each one was sitting. She recognized many names, from their parents, but didn't show it. Many were surprised when she called Harry's name, as she did not stare at him, squeal, or fall off her chair. She simply looked up to see where he was sitting, and ticked his name.
She smiled at them once she had finished and glanced at each face, trying to remember names.
'Books away,' she said. The faces lit up as they all put their books back into their bags.
'Today will be a test' everyone groaned 'to see how much you know.' Professor James started to hand out muggle board games.
'What do we do with these?' asked Neville.
'Well, you see, the test is going to be fun,' the class looked doubtful 'you shall team up in groups of three, and make these games more interesting, using only the charm's you already know. You may not consult your books, and the only equipment you may use are your wands, board games, and brains. You can do anything to your game; charm the pieces to move etc, however, I will be marking you on;
How you have used the charms
How many charms you use
Presentation
Team work
How original your game is
And over-all effort.'
She looked around at the blank faces and sighed.
'Yes, you may change your game in any way shape or form as far as charms go…yes, even into a quidditch game,' The faces lit up.
'So, you may begin,' the students grouped themselves with their mates, and set to work. Denise wandered around the room, watching her class work. Harry, Ron and Hermione had got the game 'Cluedo'. Hermione was explaining the normal rules of the game, and the boys were discussing ways of making it better. For example, making the cards talk like the wizard chess pieces did. Denise was very impressed, but moved on.
She passed their group once more ten minutes later, but stopped herself passing again. The bell soon rang, and each group left their games on Denise's desk, as instructed.
Some of them were quite funny.
One team had been given scrabble, and, not knowing what the game was about, completely changed it, so the letter pieces were pictures, and you had to make a big picture out of all the little pieces, like a puzzle.
Another team had had Snakes and Ladders. They made it so the snake squirmed around the board, and the ladders moved like the Hogwarts stair-cases.
One team had Drafts, and had made it so the pieces hovered above the board, and every time one player lost a piece, they would get squirted with goo which expanded every in thickness every time the person tried to wash it off.
Over-all, they were very inventive, and class had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were talking about the lesson all day, and everyone was soon looking forward to their lessons. However, their next Charm's lesson turned out to be a writing lesson, which the students weren't too happy with. And Denise set homework, however, it turned out to be very good.
They all had to go out late that night, and find a few objects they could easily charm. It was fun because Denise demonstrated how the simplest thing (she used a leaf) could be made to make patterns in the sky.
She really was the best teacher, and even the other professors loved her. Except Snape. Snape hated her, and if anyone mentioned how great she was in his class, they would get an instant detention. It was as though the two teachers had great loathing from their past, which of course was the truth.
Denise and Harry had not spoken since the feast. However, she soon found herself taking him for a detention, two weeks into the term.
Harry came into the classroom and Denise scanned him over. He had brought his bag with all his things.
Denise sighed. 'Sit down Harry,' she said 'I would like you to explain why you are here,'
Harry sat down and shrugged. 'Because I shouted at Snape I think,'
Denise didn't even bother to correct him to professor.
'And may I ask why you shouted at a teacher?'
'Malfoy insulted Hermione, me and Ron hexed him, Snape knocked off points, so I protested,'
'Harry, please, this year, stay out of trouble. Soon you'll graduate and you can shout at Snape and Malfoy all you want, but for now, stay out of trouble,'
'Yes, professor,'
'Don't call me that,' Denise snapped 'I hate it when people do that. I'm Denise, okay?'
Harry nodded.
'God, your father used to do that to,' Denise said, shaking her head. Harry clenched his fists.
Denise pulled up some paper work from her desk.
'Sorry, it's an essay. You have an hour,' Harry pulled out his things, read the instructions, and began to write,'
Denise sat down at her desk and began to draw. She was designing a look to go see Remus with; she was going to tell him the truth about herself that weekend. In fact, she was going to tell the whole order that weekend, and it was not a happy thought.
Denise sketched what she used to look like at twenty; long, red hair, green eyes, tall, slim and happy. They would recognize her like that, but never believe her. Denise sighed heavily and glanced at her watch.
At the same time, Harry glanced at his watch. He couldn't wait for the hour to be over, though he was glad it was just an hour. He had hoped to use the time to question Denise, but it just didn't seem like she was in the mood; she looked depressed for one thing.
Without thinking, Denise started drawing sketches of her, James and their baby. She drew one of them all together;
Lily, James, Hannah, Amy, Alice, Sirius and Remus.
She hadn't drawn in Peter, as she liked to forget him. She then drew her little toddle crawling around at their feet. She could still hear his cries from that night…
'Um, Professor? Denise?' Harry was standing at her desk. The hour had passed, and all the time Denise had been sketching out the features on her child's face.
Harry handed her his paper, and while she scanned through it, he peered at her sketches.
'I know these people…except for those three,'
Denise didn't reply. She seemed to have gone into a daze again. She put down the paper and wiped a tear from her eye.
'Are you okay?' Harry asked.
'Hum? Oh, yes, fine. Just memories…you're free to go,'
Harry packed up his things but didn't leave. The picture had bothered him. Denise had gone back to tracing out features on people's faces. Just as he finally turned to leave, Dumbledore stepped into the room, carrying a goblet of red liquid.
'Lil-Denise. I've brought the request,'
'Oh, thank you,' Denise took the goblet and laid it on her desk. She took a quick sip, screwed up he face as she swallowed it, then looked at Harry.
'It's okay, you can go,'
'Actually, I think it's time I had a word with both of you,' Dumbledore said.
'We've been through this, until James is back, I'm staying silent,' Denise said, taking another sip of the potion. It was to keep up her image.
'And I remember saying I would find a way,'
Harry stared on in confusion.
'Yes, but you also said it was impossible,'
'Ah, well, I think I have a surprise,'
'Unless he- and Sirius for that matter- I will not be surprised. The door opened a crack.
Denise was starting to turn to normal, so she took another sip of the potion. However, Harry noticed her eyes going green before returning.
'Why are you are talking about my father and Sirius?'
'Because Harry, do you remember me saying you can never bring back the dead?' Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded.
'He found a way, which does not work,'
'Actually, it does,'
'Oh please,' Denise said, standing 'You said yourself, there's no way ot bring back the dead!'
'How come you're here?'
'I told you Dumbledore, I'm fading!'
Dumbledore frowned.
'Another glitch, I admit, but…'
'But what?' Denise said angrily 'I don't want it to be fixed! I want James right here, right now! Have you thought about Harry in this? What if his doesn't want his parents back?' Denise's hair was slowly turned red.
'I do want my parents!' Harry cried.
'Harry, please, shush a moment, I'm trying to beat Dumbledore here,'
Indeed, both Denise and Dumbledore were smiling slightly. It was as though it was a game; a battle of the wits.
'Have you thought about the world? Have you thought about the lives you have put in danger? Everyone who knows I'm back is in danger, and you know it!'
'Indeed, but you know how powerful you are…'
'Oh come on Dumbledore, Voldermort is way stronger than me!' She finally remembered to sip her drink.
'Denise! Harry had fought Voldermort nearly every year, you think he got that himself? He got that from you, and James. I told you in your seventh year, you two are The match for Voldermort, then when Harry came, you were even stronger!'
Denise sighed.
'I remember, sir, but I don't want to put anyone at risk,'
'Everyone is at risk; Voldermort will attack anyone and everyone anyway. You can help stop it,'
Denise wasn't listening. She was staring at the door, which had opened slightly. She saw a flash of jet black hair move away. Harry hadn't moved.
'James,' Denise murmured under her breath. Dumbledore was still talking.
'You can fight…'
Denise smiled. Even if she was day-dreaming, or imagining it, she was seeing it. She slowly walked towards the door, which shut, apparently of its own accord. She heard footsteps running away.
'You did it!' Denise said, turning back to Dumbledore, who had a twinkle in his eye.
'Did what?' Harry asked, thoroughly confused.
'Harry, your fathers home!' Denise cried, before yanking the office door open and running down the corridor.
'Come, I will explain in my office,' Dumbledore said, leading a very confused out of the room.
Denise followed the one route she remembered. On the way her hair turned red, her eyes green, and her body tall and slim. She was back too.
Denise was going to the one place he loved. As she turned the corner, she saw the end of a cloak go around the next. Okay, so he was going to Dumbledore's office. She was slowly gaining. As she rounded another corner, she realized there were two people, not one. She was gaining on them. They were purposely slowing down so she could, just like they used to.
'Bastards,' she muttered under her breath, smiling all the same.
'Got you!' She cried, flinging her arms around James's neck from behind. He prized her fingers off, turned her round to face him, and spun her around in the air. The other figure watched on in joy.
James put her down, and the two embraced each other tightly.
'I missed you,' Denise muttered.
'I missed you more, Lilykins,'
Lily ( Denise) chuckled slightly.
'I haven't heard anyone call me that since…since the morning before, when all of us were together,'
James wiped away her tear.
'Shush, it's okay,' he whispered as she buried her head into his shoulder.
'Hey, I didn't pull James out of his grave so you could squeeze all the air out of him you know,' the other figure said.
Lily chuckled, and hugged the other figure too.
'There, see, all better,' he whispered when she stopped crying.
Lily turned to James.
'You have to meet Harry! He looks so much like you!'
'That's what I told him on the way here,' the other figure said happily.
'For gods sake, take that stupid hood down,' Lily said, reaching up to remove the hood. However, she gasped as she pulled away the material that covered…
DUN DUN DUN! Who is the mystery figure? What was he hiding? Review if you know! In fact, review anyway!
Messages; So many of you got it right, but I'm too tired to answer individual reviews. Therefore THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!
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